reflections and connections

On a cold and rainy Saskatchewan spring day, I was once again reminded of why, rain or shine, I have the best job in the world! As an in-school administrator, one of the perks of my job is the opportunity to hang out in a variety of classrooms and be part of the students' learning. Today I was busy meeting teachers and students at the school I am transferring to next year when my phone buzzed in my pocket. Reminder: Grade 4 playground proposals today. The grade 4's have been busy learning about formal and informal writing and as a part of this, the teacher wanted them to practice formal presentations. The students have decided that they want to get a couple of new pieces of equipment for the playground, so the teacher, being as "on the ball" as she always is, decided this was a perfect opportunity to have them write and speak about something they are passionate about.

So there I stood at their classroom door, waiting as they prepped their room for the presentation. When I was invited into the room, I was met with smiling students, a comfy chair with my name on it, a mug of hot chocolate and two chocolate chip cookies (the kids know how to get to my heart). The presentations were terrific, and even though the structures they want to buy are close to $20,000, they had taken an important first step, and put the wheels of change in motion.As administrators, I think it is so critical to make the time to be with the students as often as possible, this has to be our focus. In addition to being in the room, we need to be a part of the learning, and today was an example of why this is so important. The students have seen me in their room countless times, and they know I am always keenly interested in what they are working on. To receive this invitation told me that the fact I take this time matters to them, and as I told the kids, if it's important to you it's important to me. When I visit a classroom I always try to follow a similar format:

quietly enter the room and take a moment to see if it's a good time to stay and learn with the students (i.e. today during period 5 the grade 12 students were writing a chemistry test and did not need me asking them questions)

look for the "learning target" or what we term at our school, "the big idea" for the lesson

kneel down beside some students and ask the following questions:

what are you learning today?

how do you know if you are successful?

what will you do if you struggle?

leave the room and e-mail or jot a note to the teacher thanking them for the opportunity and asking them one or two reflective questions

This format has served me well as teachers have often thanked me for the feedback and questions and often times deep conversations occur a day or two later. To my fellow administrators, what are some of the things you look or listen for in a room during a visit? To my fellow teachers, what are some things you would love your administrators to notice when they are in your room?